A Pair of Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figures on Deer and Buffalo, 18th Century (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
New York, NY – Lark Mason Associates is pleased to announce the upcoming auction of the esteemed Collection of James Greenfield, a distinguished editor, journalist, statesman, and avid world traveler. The collection is open for bidding on iGavelAuctions.com from October 17 through October 31, 2024.
Greenfield, known for his urbane and well-traveled lifestyle, began his illustrious multi-faceted career as a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine, covering the Korean War in the 1950s. His assignments led him to live in Hong Kong, India, Japan and Myanmar, sparking a lifelong fascination with Asia and its diverse cultures.
In 1967, Greenfield joined The New York Times overseeing international coverage, including the Vietnam War. His contributions were crucial to the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning publication of the Pentagon Papers, a secret Defense Department report on American involvement in Vietnam.
During his extensive travels across Asia, Greenfield forged close relationships with antique dealers in Hanoi’s back alleys, Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road, the sprawling markets of Bangkok, and Cambodia’s flea markets. With a keen and discerning eye, he unearthed small, unassuming objects that often turned out to be rare and extraordinary treasures. Collecting became a lifelong passion, a pursuit that paralleled his career in journalism and public service, which included a pivotal role in the Kennedy Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.
By the late 1960s, while working in London as a correspondent for The New York Times, Greenfield’s passion for collecting expanded to English furniture, paintings, and decorative objects discovered in the Cotswolds and Bath.
Upon returning to the United States, Greenfield continued his pursuit of art and antiques, frequenting regional auctions, tag sales, and small shops. His collection became a diverse showcase of Chinese ceramics, Southeast Asian bronzes, European bronze sculptures, and scientific instruments, many of which will be available in the upcoming iGavel Auctions sale.
Notable highlights from The Greenfield Collection include:
A Pair of Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figures on Deer and Buffalo, 18th Century (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
A Chinese Huanghuali Table, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
Four Chinese Export Paintings, Interior Scenes, Gouache on Paper, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
Two Thai Bronze Buddha Heads (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)
Two Chinese Bronze Mirrors (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)
A Pair of Chinese Porcelain Lotus Form Libation Cups, Guangxu Mark and Period (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
Paintings:
John Ferneley II (1815-1862), English School, Horse, Oil on Canvas (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892), English School, Hound and Horse, Oil on Canvas, signed Claude L. Ferneley and inscribed Melton Mowbray 1867 (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)
Decorative Objects:
A Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain Group with American Flag, including five tureens and three serving dishes, 19th and 20th Centuries (Estimate: $2,000-4,000)
Joseph Smith Brass Telescope and Stand, Royal Exchange, London, ca. 1820 (Estimate: $800-1,200)
New Celestial Globe, John and William Cary, London, 1816 (Estimate: $3,000-5,000)
A pair of Swedish Gilt and Painted Wood Armchairs, ca. 1790 (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)
“We are honored to present the Collection of James Greenfield,” says Lark Mason, founder and CEO of Lark Mason Associates and iGavel Auctions. “This auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces with accessible estimates from the personal collection of a man who not only influenced history through journalism and public service but also cultivated a deep and lifelong passion for art and collecting.”
Other big winners: boxed Tremendous Mike robot, Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, American National Packard Roadster pedal car, comical Distler Directional Policeman Car, and 1966 tin Batmobile
Marx Big Loo Charlene Prototype
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – A comical German-made police car, pressed-steel rarities of the pre- and postwar era, and a robot that was pretty in pink were among the entries that landed in the top 10 at Milestone’s October 5 Premier Vintage Toy Auction. More than 700 high-quality lots from long-held collections took the spotlight at the company’s suburban-Cleveland gallery, with hundreds of phone and Internet competitors vying against in-person bidders to produce an exciting day of estimate-topping prices. After the hammer fell on the final lot, presiding auctioneer and Milestone Auctions co-owner Miles King confirmed that the sale had achieved a robust $861,000.
Even those with little knowledge of robots could have taken one look at “Charlene” – the auction’s top lot – and recognized that she was something quite special. A prototype made by Marx, the 38-inch-tall plastic robot was designed by Harry Evanhoff in 1963 as a “wife” for the legendary toy manufacturer’s male ’bot named Big Loo. Like her hubby, Charlene was designed with a green plastic body and cone-shaped head, but her eye-catching color scheme also included pink secondary and accent colors, red lips, and decidedly feminine lace and fishnet trim. She came to auction with a blue Louis Marx & Co., Glendale, West Virginia, sample tag that said 7650-X Loo and SEND GLENDALE/CHARLENE. Uniquely historical and with provenance from the Frank Bartzyel collection, the robot intended to be “Mrs Loo” sold for $21,600 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Following closely Charlene in the robot stakes was an ASC (Aoshin Shoten, Japan) tin windup Tremendous Mike Robot accompanied by its rare original box. All original, super-clean and complete – even including its easily-lost antenna – the highly desirable 10-inch robot commanded $19,065 against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$10,000.
Of all the vintage superhero toys favored by today’s collectors, few have enjoyed a winning streak in the secondary marketplace to rival that of Batman. The Caped Crusader packed a punch yet again on October 5th when a 1966 Bandai (Japan) battery-operated tin Batmobile glided across the auction block. In excellent condition and in working order, the 11-inch convertible with figures of Batman at the wheel and Robin in the passenger seat ended its run at $8,917, nearly four times its high estimate.
As predicted, American pressed steel made a strong showing at the auction. An elusive Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, all original with vibrant red paint and intact decals, was a non-motorized version believed to have been intentionally produced that way at the fabled Buddy ‘L’ factory in East Moline, Illinois. A sizable 28 inches long and with provenance from the Fred Castan collection, it sold just shy of its high estimate at $19,680.
Oozing luxury, a rare American National Packard Roadster pedal car presented in all-original condition with rich cardinal-red paint. Milestone’s auction catalog described it as the only known example with electric headlights, leading to speculation that it might have been produced to show at the famed New York Toy Fair, where exhibitors since 1903 have typically brought their highest-quality, most-advanced examples. The Packard Roadster had a replaced battery holder but, for completeness, came with the original part, as well as a dry cell battery. A high bid in the range of $10,000-$15,000 had been anticipated, but the spiffy little convertible went the extra mile, reaching $16,605.
Another pressed-steel rarity, an all-original 27-inch-long Gendron Sampson stake truck displayed beautiful orange-and-black paint and its desirable factory decals. Miles King remarked that it was the only original example of that particular model that his team had ever seen. It rumbled past its pre-sale high estimate to settle at $10,500. Also noteworthy, a 12-inch Tonka #750 pressed-steel Carnation Milk truck whose condition compared to new-old stock sold for $3,813, more than six times its high estimate.
European tin toys were led by an extremely rare Distler tin windup Directional Policeman Car. This zany-looking vehicle has a bug-eyed driver and, on the front of the vehicle, a figural policeman figure who points his arms in the direction in which the car is turning. In excellent condition, the vehicle boasts bright colors and profuse lithography overall with a medley of graphics that includes motorcycles, automobiles, people, dogs, a double-decker bus, gas pump, buildings, street lights and more. A museum-quality toy and the only one of its type that Milestone’s team has ever encountered, it sped past its $10,000-$15,000 to apply the brakes at $18,000.
To discuss consigning antique or vintage toys to a future Milestone auction, whether a collection or a single item, please call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email [email protected]. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign. Visit Milestone online at www.milestoneauctions.com.
The upcoming sale from Auctions at Showplace will present nearly 150 lots of fine art and design. Modern sculptures are particularly well-represented in the catalog, with notable examples from the likes of Henry Moore and Michael Glancy. Here are some of the key modern sculpture lots in this upcoming event.
Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1983. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Henry Moore
Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure from 1983 is among the top modern sculpture lots in this auction (lot #5; estimate: USD 60,000 – $80,000). This patinated bronze sculpture depicts a nude woman propping herself up from a resting position with an elbow. The work is notable for its smooth, curved lines that evoke a mountainous landscape.
Moore was among the most famous and successful British sculptors of the 20th century. He worked primarily in cast bronze and marble. Born in Yorkshire in 1898, Henry Moore studied art formally but was most strongly influenced by European and Aztec sculpture techniques that he observed in museums. A lasting interest in family groups, reclining forms, and ambiguous curves defined his career.
Michael Glancy, Boreal Inner Star X, 2013. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Michael Glancy
Boreal Inner Star X, a 2013 glass and copper modern sculpture by Michael Glancy, is another notable piece in this Showplace sale (lot #19; estimate: $15,000 – $25,000). This contemporary, textured piece is composed of engraved Pompeii-cut glass with a spiky bronze overlay. A curved, globular vessel rests on a flat acrylic stand, which provides a matching base for the sculpture. Michael Glancy was a native of Detroit, Michigan. He actively worked with glass for 40 years and counted Dale Chihuly as an early mentor. In addition to his glassworking, Glancy experimented with electroforming– a metalworking technique that delivers highly detailed metal forms. He drew inspiration from the macro and micro scales of the natural world. “Michael Glancy’s work is aesthetic, it is scientific, and it might be considered as growing, literally by hand, from a near-molecular vision,” wrote Tina Oldknow, former Curator of the Corning Museum of Glass. “Beginning with cell-like patterns and arcane notations jotted on paper, Michael‘s objects slowly acquire form and texture, shaped and revealed by cutting, sandblasting, and the application of copper. New forms are then made from existing forms, and the evolution continues.”
Ursula von Rydingsvard, Grzebyk IV, 1993. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Ursula von Rydingsvard
A 1993 graphite and paint on wood sculpture by Ursula von Rydingsvard will also come under the hammer in this sale (lot #37; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000). This is a wall-mounted piece titled Grzebyk IV, or Comb IV. Like many of von Rydingsvard’s works, this piece utilizes carefully positioned wood pieces to create amorphous forms.
Born in Germany to Polish and Ukrainian parents during World War II, Ursula von Rydingsvard studied art after immigrating to the United States. While her works are abstract, their forms suggest autobiographical and emotional undertones upon closer inspection. Her largest sculptures rise organically from the ground, built by layering pieces of graphite-blackened cedar. Von Rydingsvard’s works intentionally avoid description, labels, and language, instead seeking to visualize the indescribable.
Toshiko Takaezu, matte glazed stoneware closed form. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Toshiko Takaezu
Several vases and closed forms by influential American ceramicist Toshiko Takaezu will also be available in this upcoming sale. Notable among them is a stoneware closed form with a white and gray matte glaze (lot #83; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). The piece stands 7.5 inches high and 5.5 inches wide. It bears the artist’s initials carved on the bottom.
Takaezu grew up in Hawaii and began working with ceramics during the Great Depression. She specialized in closed pots that served aesthetic rather than functional purposes. Takaezu intended to conceal the inner world of her vessels, allowing their outsides to speak to her vision.
These modern sculptures and assorted works of fine art, jewelry, furniture, and more will be available with Auctions at Showplace on October 20, 2024 at 12:00 PM EDT. Interested collectors may bid live and online through Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this and other events on Auction Daily.
Featured: Paintings by Clark Hulings, Fred Williams, Anthony Palliser, Johann Berthelsen; Latin American art; American weathervanes & folk art, Asian ceramics; antique and studio furniture
Clark Hulings (NY/LA/NM, 1922-2011) Louisiana, O/C
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Everard’s October 29-31 online-only auction offers collectors and interior-design aficionados a superlative selection of fine and decorative art from notable Southern estates and tastefully-curated collections. Originality, aesthetics and provenance are the watchwords seen throughout the 1,254 lots. Highlights include property from the Ira and Nancy T Koger Estate, fine American and English furniture; paintings by Latin American artists, Boston contemporary art from the collection of Bob Herron, folk art and weathervanes from a Hamptons-based collector; and works by premier Australian artists.
Assigned an estimate of $60,000-$80,000, a rare circa-1890 gilded-copper Indian-figure weathervane is one of the auction’s star attractions. The swell-bodied standing figure in shown in a ribbed and scalloped costume with two cut sheet-copper feathers as a headdress, and holds a bow and arrow. Its height is 41 inches (74in inclusive of stand). An almost identical example was offered at Sotheby’s October 6, 2006 auction of Property from the Collection of Josephine & Walter Buhl Ford II and sold for $192,000. The stunning 74-inch-tall weathervane entrusted to Everard is part of a Bridgehampton, New York, collection of vanes, trade signs and folk art that highlights the auction’s opening session.
Also estimated at $60,000-$80,000, an atmospheric oil-on-canvas painting by Clark Hulings (1922-2011) is titled Louisiana and has resided with the same family since its pre-1972 purchase from New York’s Grand Central Gallery. Hulings was born in Florida and raised in New Jersey. Over his lifetime, he resided in New York, Louisiana, and throughout Europe before settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1972. After pursuing an initial career as a portraitist in Louisiana and freelance illustrator in New York in the 1950s, Hulings turned his focus to easel painting and soon distinguished himself as an American master of his genre, with collectors, museums and corporations eager to acquire his pictures. The auction artwork, which depicts a cottage with people on the front porch and dogs and chickens in the front yard, exemplifies Huling’s ability to capture on canvas the simple pleasures of Southern rural life.
Continuing the American folk theme is Dr Buz Halo, a paint-on-metal creation by Sam Doyle (SC, 1906-1985). Doyle’s paintings typically portray residents of the Sea Island community of St. Helena, S.C., as well as iconic historic and religious figures, and modern American pop icons. One of his frequent subjects, a St. Helena root doctor named “Dr. Buz,” is depicted in the eponymous painting to be auctioned on Day 1 with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
Fine art highlights also include works by Australian artists Fred Williams (1927-1982) and Sir Russell Drysdale (1912-1981). Williams’ Loxton Landscape beautifully interprets the artist’s understanding of the Australian outback’s moods and unique colors. Recognized as one of the 20th century’s most accomplished landscapists, Williams was the first Australian artist to hold a solo exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Loxton Landscape is a gouache-on-paper estimated at $30,000-$40,000. Another Australian art luminary is Sir Russell Drysdale (1912-1981), whose ink-on-paper work depicting a standing Aboriginal man has an auction estimate of $4,000-$6,000. Drysdale is considered one of the first Australian artists to explore with sensitivity the relationships between the landscape and indigenous people of Australia.
The auction includes six paintings of quintessential New York scenes by Johann Berthelsen (NY/CT/Denmark, 1883-1972). The largest of the works, an oil-on-canvas titled 5th Ave Looking South from 59th St (Nocturne), Oil on Canvas, leads the group with an estimate of $3,000-$5,000. A native of Denmark, Berthelsen came to America at the age of seven when his mother and siblings crossed the Atlantic, in 1890. Originally an opera singer and voice coach, Berthelsen turned to art after the stock market crash of 1929 put him out of business. Essentially self-taught, his natural talent as an artist won him widespread acclaim. His paintings were collected by many prominent figures of the 20th century. Today his work is held in the collections of the Hirshhorn Museum (Washington, DC) and many other institutions.
A large collection of Latin American paintings from the Estate of Enrique Manuel Arias (Alachua, Florida) is also featured in the auction. Arias worked in banking and, at the height of his career, was the chief executive officer for Latin America and the Caribbean at Barclays Bank in Miami. He was an expert in Latin American economic policy and played a key role in the rebuilding of his native Panama following the US invasion in 1989. Among the paintings in his collection are a large-scale oil-on-canvas still life by self-taught artist Miguel Florido (Cuba, b. 1980-), Still Life with Gourds,which is estimated at $4,000-$6,000; and a humorous 2004 work by Cuban artist Ruben Alpizar (Cuba b. 1965-), titled Windows with Figures, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Alpízar graduated from the José Joaquín Tejada Provincial School of Visual Arts in Santiago de Cuba in 1984 and the Superior Institute of Art in Havana in 1989. Multiple solo exhibitions of his work have been mounted in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain.
A stand-out furniture lot is a large mid-18th-century Swedish Rococo giltwood mirror with an auction estimate of $5,000-$8,000. The consignor purchased it at a Sotheby’s Fine French and Continental Furniture and Decorations sale in 1997. Other furniture highlights include an early-19th-century Kentucky secretary, $2,000-$3,000; and circa-1810 sugar chest, $400-$600. Both were formerly the property of Charles D Daniel Jr of Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Day 2 of the auction is notable for its variety of treasured pieces from the Ira and Nancy T. Koger Estate. There are excellent examples of Chinese ceramics, including a pair of blue and white “Aster” chargers, which are estimated at $1,200-$1,800. Also, a painting of a fish that was purchased as the work of Alfred Sisley (France, 1839-1899) comes with an unusual back story. A handwritten note, which is included with the lot, states that the painting is actually part of a larger Sisley work that was cut in two by a previous owner. The painting also retains a Christie’s label on verso and now comes to auction with a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.
Also poised for success are several works by British artist Anthony Palliser, who is best known for his portraits of prominent figures and compelling Lowcountry scenes. Palliser lives in Paris but is a frequent visitor to Savannah and also Charleston, South Carolina. His large-scale portrait of James Lord – a fascinating man who lived with Picasso muse Dora Maar and wrote a biography of Giacometti – is estimated at $3,500-$5,000.
The auction’s closing session, on October 31, includes property from the collection of Bob Herron, an avid collector who has resided in Boston, Paris and Savannah. A striking image from his collection is photographer Peter Vanderwarker’s Type C print titled Near Marfa, Texas. A depiction of the famous “Prada Marfa” pop art installation located in remote West Texas, it carries an estimate of $2,500-$4,000. Bob Herron’s collection is also the source of an unusual pair of bronze snake-form candlesticks by studio furniture artist Judy Kensley McKie (Mass., b. 1944-). They are initial-signed and dated 2009 and each is numbered 2/8 under its base. The eye-catching serpentine duo stands 12¼ inches tall and is estimated at $9,000-$12,000.
For the ceramics enthusiast, Everard suggests any of 14 works by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011). Toshiko is widely acknowledged as having been instrumental in establishing ceramics as a fine art. During her lifetime, her work was exhibited throughout the United States and Japan. In fact, a current traveling retrospective curated by the Isamu Noguchi Foundation showcases 200 ceramics, paintings, weavings and cast-bronze sculptures. The vessels in Everard’s auction were inherited by the consignor’s mother, a close friend and former student of Toshiko’s who acquired the pieces directly from the artist.
Everard’s October 29-31 Fall Southern Estates Auction will start at 10 am EST on all three days of the series. Bid absentee or live online via Everard, LiveAuctioneers, Bidsquare or Invaluable. The public is invited to an October 22 preview reception from 5-7pm at Everard Auctions’ gallery, with additional previewing available October 23, 24 or 25, or by appointment. For more information on any item in the auction, call 912-231-1376 or email [email protected]. Everard is located at 2436 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404. Online: http://www.everard.com/.
This October, Auctions at Showplace will present its Important Fine Art & Design Auction with nearly 150 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, jewelry, and more. This event especially features a screenprint piece by Andy Warhol and a glass and metal sculpture by Michael Glancy. The sale will take place on October 20, 2024, with online bidding available through Bidsquare.
Andy Warhol Flowers (Black & White) Screenprint
An original silkscreen version of Andy Warhol’s Flowers (Black and White) leads the auction catalog (lot #103; estimate: USD 3,000 – $5,000). It is one of ten screenprints created by Warhol from images featured in the Interpretive Flower Designs wallpaper catalog. Images in Flowers (Black and White) are presented in black and white to highlight the lines and composition in the artwork. The subject matter of flower imagery repeatedly resurfaced throughout Warhol’s career across various media. The piece has a unique hand-drawn quality and a different stylization than many of Warhol’s other subjects, demonstrating the artist’s versatility as an artist. The offered wood-framed screenprint was printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York and is hand-signed in pencil by Warhol on the lower right. The auction will also include a screenprint of Andy Warhol’s Electric Chair, from 1971(lot #1; estimate: $10,000 – $20,000).
Michael Glancy Boreal Inner Star X Sculpture
Beyond fine art, this sale will feature sculptures by Michael Glancy, including Boreal Inner Star X (lot #19; estimate: $15,000 – $25,000). The glass and metal pieces created by Glancy make a powerful statement despite their compact size, with intricate patterns and unexpected shapes, in keeping with his unique and flamboyant style. An underside signature, title, and date are included on this Pompeii glass vessel and base plate.
Cartier Cle de Cartier Stainless Steel Watch
Collectors of luxury timepieces can consider a Cle de Cartier stainless steel wristwatch from Cartier (lot #42; estimate: $2,000 – $4,000). The crown has a rectangular shape, a nod to traditional 19th-century winding keys. The name comes from the word clé, which means “key” in French. The available Cartier watch features a silver opaline dial, Roman numerals, and a date display at six o’clock. Another notable Cartier timepiece in the auction is a Cartier Tank 18-karat yellow gold and diamond wristwatch with a white dial and black Roman numerals (lot #41; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000).
Additional lots of interest in this sale include:
An art glass sculpture by Michael Estes Taylor
A mid-20th century Murano Glass chandelier attributed to Barovier
A Fritz Hansen camel-tone leather-covered egg chair by Arne Jacobsen
A pair of 18-karat yellow gold Trinity diamond earrings from Cartier
A Wurlitzer Art Deco butterfly baby grand piano
Situated in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, NY for over two decades, Auctions at Showplace holds bi-weekly auctions of luxury items, fine art, design, jewelry, and antiques. Items include fine and decorative arts, interior decor, furniture, antiques, artifacts, fine jewelry, designer fashion, art glass, ceramics, silver, lighting, sculptures, bronzes, and paintings. In-house shipping is not available at Showplace. Item pickup or shipment must be completed within ten days of the auction.
This Important Fine Art & Design Auction sale will begin at 12:00 PM EDT on October 20, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. Find more auctions and news on Auction Daily.
The Musée d’Orsay is proud to be the first non-Scandinavian institution to honor Harriet Backer, the Norwegian painter who created a modern synthesis of pleinairism and interior scenes. Curators Leïla Jarbouai and Estelle Bégué have selected seventy-four major works, almost…
The Musée d’Orsay is proud to be the first non-Scandinavian institution to honor Harriet Backer, the Norwegian painter who created a modern synthesis of pleinairism and interior scenes. Curators Leïla Jarbouai and Estelle Bégué have selected seventy-four major works, almost all of which are held in Norway — notably at the National Museum in Oslo — and are presented in a chronological and thematic sequence, sometimes accompanied by musical extracts composed by Backer’s sister Agathe Grøndahl. The exhibition thus focuses — somewhat repetitively — on the artist’s passion for music, her social circle, her landscapes and still lifes, to the unfortunate exclusion of the importance that literature and writing also played as sources of inspiration for Backer. It also struggles to pinpoint the origins, values and scope of “plein air en intérieur” (‘outdoor painting indoors’), that subtle oxymoron already analyzed by art historian Nils Ohlsen in Skandinavische Interieurmalerei zur Zeit Carl Larssons (Scandinavian Interior Painting in the Age of Carl Larsson) in 1999. Above all, the exhibition seeks to demonstrate the extent to which capturing the play of light — echoing music — was the artist’s lifelong objective. While most of the works produced during her training, in Munich and then Paris between 1874 and 1888, are characterized by a cold tone, something changes with Blue Interior, from 1883: a sensitive space with joyful colors. The rest of the exhibition shows how, on her return to Norway in 1888, Backer favored a light touch and a harmonious palette. The shimmering windows in her domestic and church interiors of the 1890s, which are bathed in diffused light, plunge us into spaces radiant with colorful rays. The last room, reserved for still lifes and interiors from the 1910s, proves just how insightful an artist Backer had become, and how much she had become the flower of the Norwegian soul: emotion is at its peak, like a little romantic music finally mastered.
Worth Seeing “Harriet Backer (1845-1932). La musique des couleurs” “(Harriet Backer (1845-1932). The Music of Colors),” Musée d’Orsay, Paris VII. Until January 11, 2025 musee-orsay.fr
While his portraits have gone down in history, Fantin-Latour’s still lifes played a very special role in his career. The painter elevated this ‘minor’ genre to a high level of excellence.
Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904), Nature morte au raisin dans une coupe de verre et panier d’herbes, (Still Life with Grapes in a Glass Bowl and Basket of Herbs), 1882, oil on canvas, signed and dated, 37 x 53 cm/14.56 x 20.86 in. Estimate: €100,000/120,00
“The simplest things, the most banal in appearance, have an interesting character; they must be rendered”, declared Henri Fantin-Latour. The painter has put this into practice with this canvas from 1882. For this sober composition, he chose modest herbs, perhaps a branch of hawthorn, placed in a wicker basket to accompany a glass bowl garnished with white grapes. As typically found in his still lifes, the artist is interested in the contrasting textures of the elements and their ability to reflect light. He makes do with a neutral background, so that nothing stands in the way of this poetic vision. Although Fantin-Latour was influenced by the realist movement, he detached himself from it whenever he could to offer the viewer a dreamy contemplation of the miracle of the living world. Romanticism and a form of modernity, which can be found in his ability to render a fragile, ephemeral nature, are also present in his work. Yet he remained a studio painter, composing his reality with what he found around him, whether in his Paris studio at 8, rue des Beaux-arts, or in the family home of his wife Victoria Dubourg—also a painter of flowers—in Buré, Orne. Although his first arrangements were somewhat opulent, from the mid-1870s onwards Fantin-Latour focused on simpler compositions, combining more diverse but always perfectly chosen elements. This led Zacharie Astruc to say at the 1870 Salon that Fantin-Latour painted “still lifes worthy of Chardin”. A fine and just compliment at a time when this genre was still considered minor in comparison with history painting. A member of the bourgeoisie, the artist felt right at home in the hushed, delicate world of his canvases, as did English high society, which first fell in love with his work. Henri Fantin-Latour regularly traveled to the other side of the Channel, accompanied by his friends the painter Whistler and the art patron-dealer Edwin Edwards, who acted as intermediaries for his loyal and welcome clientel.
The sale doubled its total estimate and drew the highest number of registrations for a Bonhams U.S. Sale
Dianne Feinstein. Credit: AP Photo
Los Angeles – Bonhams presented the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s personal collection on October 8 in Los Angeles. Immense interest fuelled the sale which lasted nearly 12 hrs, with a majority of lots selling well above estimate, and overall doubling the all-in estimate of the sale to achieve $1.85 million. The auction set new records for Bonhams, boasting the highest number of registrations for a U.S. sale ever and for a global sale in the past 15 years.
The majority of the interest came from the United States with Californian buyers accounting for 70% of the hammer price. The auction also attracted a significant number of new buyers, who made up 40% of the hammer price.
Commenting on the sale, Victoria R. Gray, Bonhams Deputy Chairman, North America, said: “This turnout is a testament to the profound influence Senator Feinstein had in her home state of California. We’re proud to have hosted this auction to celebrate the life and career of a remarkable stateswoman and give a unique opportunity for collectors and admirers to own a piece of Senator Feinstein’s enduring legacy.”
The auction offered furniture and design objects from her three homes as well as a stunning collection of American art. Additionally, memorabilia from her illustrious political career was offered as well as an extensive jewelry collection befitting an American dignitary who represented her country with elegance and grace.
Overall, Legacy of a Stateswoman: The Personal Collection of Senator Dianne Feinstein presented 278 lots and totalled $1,850,000 with a 99% sell through rate.
Senator Feinstein’s jewelry collection, often worn to high-profile events, sparked significant interest. The collection sold for 3.5 times its estimated value, achieving a total of over half a million dollars. Stealing the show was Feinstein’s Platinum and Diamond ring selling for $108,450 – 2.4x the estimate of $45,000-65,000. Another significant piece was a 14k bi-color gold and diamond ‘California State Flower’ Brooch,which sold for $19,200 – 27x its estimate of $600-800. Additional highlights include:
A platinum and gem-set bow brooch. Sold for $13,200 – 26x its estimate of $400-500.
An 18k gold rose petal set, 1979, attributed to Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. Sold for $10,880 – 4x its estimate of $2,000-3,000.
An18k gold ‘Tank Louis’ Cartier wristwatch. Sold for $8,960 – 11x its estimate of $800-1,200.
The auction also generated overwhelming interest for Senator Feinstein’s political memorabilia, reaching nearly 5 times the estimated value. Highlights include:
Dianne Feinstein’s Mayoral Desk Plaque. Sold for $3,840 – 25x the estimate of $200-300.
A Jimmy Carter letter sent to Dianne Feinstein, sending comforting words after the 1990 election. Sold for $4,864 – 6x the estimate of $800-1,000.
A piece of the Berlin Wall.Sold $3,584 –36x the estimate of $100-200.
Three significant Senatorial Roll Call Votes. Sold for $6,400 – 6x the estimate of $1,000-2,000.
A Jimmy Carter signed program from the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in 2002. Sold for $3,840 – 26x the estimate $150-250.
A Hillary Clinton 2008 campaign poster inscribed to Dianne Feinstein in 2008. Sold for $5,120 – 17x the estimate of $300-500.
A pair of photographs of the Golden Gate bridge, 1937 and 1987. Sold for $5,120 –17x the estimate of $300-500.
Senator Feinstein had an impressive collection of paintings by American artists and Chinese art. The highlight of the section was William Alexander Coulter’s (1849-1936) Ships Sailing in the San Francisco Bay with Fort Point in the Distance, 1907 which sold for $229,100 – 3x its estimate of $70,000-100,000. Selling for over 43x their estimate was four Chinese Doucai ‘shou and peach tree’ dishes, which sold for $108,450, against an estimate of $2,500-3,500. Additional highlights include:
Frank Henry Shapleigh (1842-1906), The Hetch Hetchy Valley, 1887. Sold for $95,750 – 4.8x over an estimate of $20,000-40,000.
A rare pair of Chinese blue and white ‘dragon’ ogee-form bowls Jiaqing seal marks and of the period. Sold for $38,400 – 5x the estimate of $8,000-12,000.
A Dianne Feinstein Drawing. “Orchids 2001.” Sold for $4,864 – 12x its estimate of $400-600
Two more online sales of Senator Feinstein’s collection will follow with Jewelry from the Personal Collection of Senator Dianne Feinstein running until October 15 and further works of art from Senator Feinstein and her late husband, Richard Blum’s Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art Collection from October 14-24.
Featured: Mark Kuster’s 35-year toy collection spanning the Popeye universe; and a single-owner trove of fan club rarities and autographed material pertaining to “The King”
Very Rare Linemar Battery-operated Popeye Oliveoyl Tank
DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s last major toy sale of the year will take place on November 6-7, three weeks before Thanksgiving, but there isn’t a single “turkey” in the lineup. In fact, there’s so much quality and variety, it will feel like one of those great toy events of the pre-Internet era that collectors used to love.
The auction is anchored by two major collections: a fantastic array of Popeye toys amassed over 35+ years by retired professor and Popeye reference-book author Mark Kuster, and a North Carolina collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia that will leave bidders all shook up.
Kuster’s collection of approximately 72 Popeye toys includes some of the finest of all known examples, with 39 of the comic-character rarities retaining their original boxes. There are many seldom-seen color variations in the specialty grouping comprised of Popeye with Parrot Cages toys, whose differences include striped or solid-colored legs, caped or without cape, etc.
The top picks in Kuster’s toy trove are a battery-operated Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank (with repro box), followed by a very rare Hoge tin speedboat, which is one of fewer than a dozen known to exist. Also in the circle of honor are a boxed Chein Popeye Heavy Hitter and a Linemar Popeye Aeroplane, which is small but beautiful and very difficult to find in excellent to near-mint working condition. Another of Kuster’s personal favorites is a classic Hubley cast-iron Popeye Motorcycle.
The Elvis collection comes from a diehard fan who always bought but never sold, meaning the goodies are fresh to the market. Many pieces were autographed by “The King” himself, including 20 rare sets of Elvis Presley cards that span the years 1956-1978 and have a total estimated value of $10,000-$20,000. Additionally, there are cards from a series produced in the late 1970s after Presley’s passing (in 1977). Many of the cards are graded. Additionally, there are Graceland mementos, bracelets, earrings, military-style dog tags, scarves, photos, magazines and, of course, records.
“The majority of the collection consists of fan club items you could order, or which you would receive, if you were a member of the Elvis Presley Fan Club,” said Tommy Sage Jr, Head of Morphy’s Toys & Trains Department. In all, there are no fewer than 200 pieces dating from 1956 through the 1970s, which will be apportioned into 75 group lots.
Sports card collectors are expected to step up to the plate for a selection that includes sealed sports cards, wax packs, cellos, rack packs and boxes. Two 1914 Cracker Jack cards are amongst the top lots – a PSA-graded Ty Cobb card could sell for more than $20,000, while a Honus Wagner card carries a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Other exciting picks include an excellent 1973 Topps cello pack with a rookie card for Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt visible on top, and a Nolan Ryan card visible on the bottom. This sealed pack is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. In addition to baseball, other major league sports represented in the collector-card category include hockey, football and basketball.
For the “pennywise” collector, more than 100 cast-iron mechanical banks will be offered, many of them in extremely nice condition. They include such “must-haves” as a Boy Scout Camp, Professor Pug Frog, Darktown Battery, Punch and Judy, Bad Accident, Trick Pony, Eagle and Eaglets, and a Shepard Hardware rare-variant Santa Claus and Chimney bank depicting the holiday gift-giver in a dark blue coat. Tommy Sage noted that he has never seen that particular color variation before.
Pressed-steel trucks by all of the most coveted brands will be ready to roll across the auction block. In addition to Buddy ‘L’ trucks, several Buddy ‘L’ trains will join the railroad assortment alongside pre- and postwar trains, both standard and O gauge. Highlights include an exceptionally fine Carlisle train and a Lionel standard-gauge Blue Comet.
From a consignment of old store stock, there are numerous Marklin HO trains and German autos, including approximately 50 mint/boxed Schuco cars that were never sold to the public. “Most are from the 1950s and were purchased right out of a store in Germany in the 1950s and ’60s,” Sage explained.
Additionally, there are German and French (including Citroen) tin-litho cars manufactured both before and after World War II. Collectors of earlier cars aren’t likely to overlook an attractive green Carette auto that is included in this group. From the American side of the Atlantic comes a large collection of Wyandotte pressed-steel and lithographed tin vehicles. In all, there are 200+ cars, buses and airplanes.
From a California collection, a remarkable German-made coin-op depicts heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (1914-1981). The 4ft-tall composition figure stands on a wooden base and twists back and forth on springs. For the price of 10 German schillings, the customer could don the extra pair of boxing gloves – which are included and original to the unit – and spar with the legendary “Brown Bomber.” Sage assessed the period of manufacture as “probably the 1930s – the figure looks a lot like Louis did during the Max Schmeling years.”
The Bat-Signal will be guiding superhero collectors toward an extremely rare Ideal Batman Utility Belt in beautiful, all-original condition in its original box. “I’ve never had one, and I’ve collected Batman toys all my life,” said Sage. “The last one I saw was in the $15,000-$20,000 range, and we expect the one in our auction will probably sell for around the same price.”
The broad panorama of toys also incorporates hand-painted German toys, dolls, comic books, 1950s-1970s robots and space toys; pre- and postwar Erector sets in their original wood or metal boxes, and 50 cast-iron doorstops led by a coveted Judd Co., “West Wind Girl.”
An outstanding salesman’s sample represents a road grader/thresher manufactured around 1900 by National Drill. Sage noted that some years ago a sample of the same type sold at auction for around $10,000.
The Wednesday/Thursday Nov. 6-7, 2024 Toys & General Collectibles Auction will be held live at Morphy’s gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Enquiries: call 877-968-8880, email [email protected]. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.
Netsuke are tiny, carved toggles designed to secure an individual’s sagemono– or traditional purse– to their kimono’s obi (belt sash). These small-scale works of art have been part of Japanese culture since the 17th century. Regardless of age, materials, or form, netsuke by definition have two holes artfully integrated into their design to hold the cords joining these two accessories together. The earliest netsuke were purely functional and were made from found materials, including wood and roots. Starting in the Edo era (1615 – 1868), they became more sophisticated in design, themes, and materials. Over time, netsuke have been produced from animal products, including ivory, bone, tusk, horn, and shells; clay and porcelain; metals including gold, copper, and silver; and even semi-precious and precious stones. Traditional forms have included people, animals, plants, fruits, vegetables, gods and spirits, household items, and even erotica.
Eldred’s, of East Dennis, MA, is offering its 268-lot netsuke sale on October 10, 2024. The sale includes a spectrum of antique to modern examples across material and subject categories. Here are some eye-catching highlights of this netsuke sale.
Lot #0638, a wood and ivory netsuke attributed to Kyokusei, is estimated at $12,000 to $15,000. Image courtesy of Eldred’s.
Carved Wood and Ivory Netsuke
The top lot in this netsuke sale is #0638, a carved wood and ivory netsuke attributed to Kyokusei. This unsigned example is estimated at USD 12,000 to $15,000. It is 6.75 inches tall and in the form of a tall, thin South Seas islander. He has well-rendered, oversized feet and toes which allow him to stand on his own. He comes to life with inlaid eyes, full hair above his shoulders, and a pleasant, open smile. His outfit consists of a well-carved ivory neckerchief and matching shorts, and his accessories include metal arm bracelets and green anklets. He holds a long, narrow piece of coral in his right hand.
The Japanese artist Kyokusei, who was active in the late 19th century, was especially known for his quirky, playful interpretation of native islanders. His work often included dark ebony wood and a variety of other natural materials– including ivory, coral, gemstones, and metal– to add authenticity and color contrast to his creations. In 2022, Galerie Zacke in Vienna, Austria sold a late 19th century inlaid ebony wood netsuke of a coral diver signed by Kyokusei for EUR 4,803.
Lot #0631, a carved wood netsuke by Ikkosai, is estimated at $10,000 to $12,000. Image courtesy of Eldred’s.
Carved Wood Netsuke by Ikkosai
This netsuke sale features strong selections of antique, signed wooden netsuke by legacy artists. Lot #0631, a Japanese Osaka School carved wood netsuke by Ikkosai, is estimated at $10,000 to $12,000. This rarity measures 1.75 inches tall and depicts Raijin, the god of thunder, sitting on the ground and playing his drum. It is magnificently designed and executed, with remarkable undercutting details throughout. The netsuke features darker inlaid eyes and as well as decorative studs along both sides of the instrument.
Japanese artist Ikkosai Toun (1804 – 1876) was active in the mid to late 19th century. He specialized in smaller scaled, finely crafted figures and animals. His Sambaso Dancer is featured in the permanent collection of The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD. In 2023, Bonhams sold his small mother-of-pearl netsuke of a rabbit pounding mochi for nearly $4,000.
Lot #0727, a carved boxwood netsuke by Susan Wraight, is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000. Image courtesy of Eldred’s.
Carved Boxwood Netsuke by Susan Wraight
Also of note in this sale is a fine offering of modern netsuke reflecting unconventional themes or subjects. Lot #0727, a carved and stained boxwood netsuke by Australian artist Susan Wraight, is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000. This contemporary, nearly ball-shaped example is 1.5 inches tall and embodies a koala bear scratching an itch behind his ear with one of his feet. The marsupial holds a meal of eucalyptus leaves in one of his hands. One of his eyes is inlaid; the other is closed. The artist signed this netsuke on an 18-karat gold plaque located on the bottom of the piece.
Susan Wraight was formally trained at the Royal College of Art in London in jewelry making. She has been creating netsuke for more than four decades, primarily in wood. She is a leading member of the contemporary netsuke movement, which is pivoting netsuke from being primarily Japanese in theme and audience to a global art category with collectors and carvers on every continent. She was profiled as an important netsuke artist in the Fall, 2006 issue of the International Netsuke Journal and has given netsuke-making courses through the Victorian Woodworkers Association of Melbourne, Australia.
Lot #0677, an ivory netsuke by Masatoshi, is estimated at $6,000 to $7,000. Image courtesy of Eldred’s.
Ivory Netsuke by Masatoshi
Netsuke made from animal materials including ivory, tusk, and antlers is another premier category in this early autumn event. Lot #0677, an ivory netsuke by Masatoshi, is estimated at $6,000 to $7,000. This carving is 2.25 inches tall and includes two figures. One is an older, emaciated female ghost; she wears a flowing robe, has very long hair, and is emerging from flames. The other is a one-eyed infant with a large, dimensional nose and mouth. It is signed by the artist on its bottom.
Masatoshi (Japanese, b. Nakamura Tokisada,1915 – 2001) is considered the last of the traditional netsuke artists. His work is famous for outstanding sculptural integrity and fine attention to detail. In 1981, he partnered with Raymond Bushell to write the book The Art of Netsuke Carving by Masatoshi as told to Raymond Bushell. This reference tome is considered one of the finest of the netsuke category. In it, Masatoshi explained netsuke production in detail, including his approach to his work, his chosen themes and materials, his tools, and his processes, along with a history of the craft.
Lot #0623, a 19th-century Japanese mother-of-pearl netsuke carved as a bat, is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500. Image courtesy of Eldred’s.
Modern Netsuke
Antique to modern-era netsuke and related accessories made from and/or decorated with ebony, mother of pearl, cloth, and other organic materials round out this important event. Lot #0623, a 19th-century Japanese mother-of-pearl netsuke carved as a bat, is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500. This unsigned example measures 1.5 inches long, is simply but elegantly carved, and features inlaid eyes.
For more information on Eldred’s Netsuke sale on October 10, 2024 and to register to bid, visit LiveAuctioneers. Find more auctions and news on Auction Daily.
